Electrolysis School

WRITTEN BY Beauty Schools Directory Editorial Staff | UPDATED ON 12/17/2024

If you love beauty and science, attending electrology school may be for you! Here, we'll talk about how to become an electrologist, what to expect in an electrolysis program, and how to get your license in the field.

How to Become an Electrologist

To become an electrologist, you must complete either an electrology training program or an electrology apprenticeship. The path to starting your new career varies, depending on your state.

In many states you need a standalone electrologist license to begin work. However, some states require you to earn a full esthetician's license plus an electrology certificate. In other states, you don't need a license at all.

Learn more about each state's requirements below.

What Does an Electrologist Do?

Electrologists use specialized equipment to permanently stop their clients' hair from growing. The procedure can be performed on all parts of the body, including the eyebrows, but typically targets the legs, underarms, and face.

Electrology sessions usually last between 15 minutes and one hour, with multiple sessions required to achieve successful results. How many sessions it takes varies from person to person. It could be as few as 15 or as many as 30, depending on a range of variables. In most cases, treatments are scheduled one or two weeks apart. Often, you'll start by using the slower blend method on coarse hair, then switch to the faster thermolysis method for follow-up visits once the hair begins to grow back finer.

Your day-to-day work also requires setting up and prepping your workstation and your clients, as well as cleaning, sanitizing, and maintaining your tools and equipment. Additionally, you'll spend time consulting with your customers, assessing their goals, and determining which treatment is right for them.

How Electrolysis Works

The basic steps of electrology are:

1. A tiny needle is inserted into the hair follicle under the skin's surface.

2. The needle applies an electrical current to the follicle, which damages it enough to prevent it from growing hair.

3. The needle and the damaged hair shaft are removed.

Electrolysis Methods

There are three types of electrolysis methods: galvanic, thermolysis, and blend.

Galvanic electrolysis uses a direct electrical current to create a chemical reaction. The reaction then destroys the cells that regrow hair in the follicle. It was the earliest form of electrolysis and works well on strong, coarse hair, but it has fallen out of favor as new techniques emerged. It's highly effective but takes much longer than the alternatives—as long as three minutes per hair!

The thermology method (also known as short-wave diathermy) uses an alternating high-frequency current to generate heat to damage the follicle. It's much quicker than the galvanic method, requiring only one to three seconds per hair. Because of its speed, thermolysis is much more popular than the galvanic method, but it's not as effective on course hair.

As the name implies, the blend method combines both, using thermolysis-generated heat to stimulate a galvanic chemical reaction. It takes longer than thermolysis—about seven seconds per hair—but works well for coarse hair, scattered hair, and problem areas.

Electrolysis vs. Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal and electrolysis both damage follicles to prevent new hair growth, but they use different kinds of energy to do it. Laser hair removal uses concentrated beams of light, while electrolysis uses a mild electric current. Electrolysis is permanent, while laser treatments provide a long-term, but ultimately temporary, solution to hair removal. Electrolysis is also less painful and works better on a wider range of hair and skin types. However, it requires more sessions overall.

Training for an Electrology Career

All electrologists need some training to perform the procedure, but just how much training you need depends on your state. You can also choose to learn about electrology as part of a comprehensive cosmetology program or in esthetician training.

What Are the Requirements for Enrolling in Electrolysis School?

Enrollment requirements can vary by program, but generally, the barriers to entry are relatively low. You must be at least 16 years old, although many states only accept 17- and 18-year-olds into licensing programs. Sometimes a ninth-grade education is all that's needed; but in most cases, you'll need at least a 10^th-grade education, and likely a high school diploma or GED.

How Long Does It Take to Complete an Electrolysis Program?

Virtually all electrology training programs can be completed within a year, though it varies depending on where you live. Each state sets its own licensing requirements, which include a set number of training hours that must be completed before you qualify.

What Will I Learn in Electrolysis School?

Electrolysis programs provide hands-on training in the procedures you'll need to master, but that's not all. You'll also study the physiology of the skin and hair, alongside academic work in subjects like biology and bacteriology. You'll also learn about laws, rules, and regulations; equipment upkeep and maintenance; and how to maintain a safe, sanitary, and hygienic workplace.

How Do I Find the Best Electrolysis School Near Me?

The first step is to learn your state's licensing requirements. From there, you can research local schools and programs and choose a few that meet those requirements. Your budget will also likely be a determining factor, so find a school you can afford to attend or one that offers financial aid.

Some other tips to find the best program for you:

Dig into your top choice schools' reputations. Ask students and check out reviews.
If flexibility is important, determine if the schools you consider offer online training.
Confirm courses are taught by experienced electrolysis professionals.
Ensure they offer job placement and career services.

Can I Apprentice as an Electrologist?

Some states allow you to participate in an apprenticeship instead of a traditional school-based training program. This format pairs you, the apprentice, with a qualified professional mentor. If you follow this route, you'll learn not in a classroom or a simulated environment but in an actual workplace with real, paying customers. You'll learn on the job, assisting where you can, until you gain the experience, knowledge, and training needed to apply for a license and begin your career as an electrologist.

States That Allow Apprenticeship Training for Electrologists

Alaska
California
Delaware
Hawaii
Idaho
Kansas
Louisiana
Michigan
Nevada
Rhode Island

sponsored content, school availability varies by location

Getting Your Electrolysis License

Licensure requirements vary widely from state to state. Michigan, for example, requires only 400 hours of electrology training. In Indiana, on the other hand, you'll first have to complete a 1,500-hour cosmetology course or a 700-hour esthetics course, plus an additional 300-hour electrology course. As of 2024, the following 18 states don't have any licensing requirements for electrologists:

States Without Licensing Requirements for Electrologists

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Colorado
Georgia
Kentucky
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
New York
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
South Dakota
Texas
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wyoming

For more detailed information, please visit our electrology licensing page.

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